Women Who Podcast Magazine - Spring 2021 Issue One

Issue 01 | Spring 2021 a magazine for and about podcasters

SIX PODCASTERS YOUR EARS WILL LOVE PODCASTER ZODIAC SIGNS LOW HANGING MICROPHONE: 3 C’s OF INTERVIEWING THOSE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD: FEAR OF FAILURE

Creative Genius Behind Women Beyond Forty Empire

SANDY LOWRES 3

www.womenwhopodcastmag.com copyright 2021

In memory of Leann Harris Shelf Aware Books Podcast 1

SPRING ISSUE 2021

The Team KATHY BARRON Founder, Creative Director, Editor NATALIE BOERO Writer, Editor TINA JARAMILLO Editor

Contributing Writers Elaine Best, Nancy R. Burger, Casey Grim, Rachel Lee Perez, Leah Walukones, Crystal Warren Logo design Leah Walukones Photo Credit (Kathy Barron) Paul Mueller Photography

Advertising For advertising and special project opportunities, please email: info@womenwhopodcastmag.com www.womenwhopodcastmag.com @womenwhopodcastmagazine ©2021 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission from the publisher.

The views expressed in Women Who Podcast are those of the respective condtributors and are not necessarily shared by Women Who Podcast and its staff.

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Welcome Welcome to the inaugural issue of Women Who Podcast Magazine!

Women podcasters are a vital presence in the podcasting world, and it’s about time a publication gave them (us) the accolades they (we) deserve. Each issue of the magazine will showcase seven talented, creative, independent podcasters who inspire and empower both their audiences and their fellow podcasters to make a difference in the world. I am honored to have these women grace the pages of the magazine.

Women Who Podcast Magazine is also for listeners of podcasts. As podcasters, our audiences are at the heart of why we put ourselves out there and do the work that we do.

To update an age-old philosophical question, if a podcast is created, but nobody listens, does it even exist? Our audiences are our lifelines, sounding boards, greatest fans and, sometimes, our harshest critics. That’s why I felt it was important to have a section of the magazine called “Listen Up." This feature is a platform for listeners to give feedback to help podcasters better understand why people listen to podcasts, what they want from a podcast, and how we, as podcasters, can do better.

Whether you’re a podcaster or a podcast fan, Women Who Podcast Magazine will strive to be a forum for fans and hosts to reach out to one another for support, collaboration, and inspiration. It’s also a way for listeners to be introduced to new podcasts and podcasters.

A special note of gratitude to, and sincere respect to everyone who contributed to making this magazine a reality. Your wisdom, talent, and support is greatly appreciated. For readers, by subscribing to Women Who Podcast Magazine, you are helping support and sustain the very first and only magazine dedicated exclusively to showcasing women podcasters, their podcasts, and their listeners!

Thank you for sharing your voice, your feedback, and making a difference in people’s lives.

Kathy Barron Kathy Barron Founder and Editor-in-Chief

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Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

20

ZODIAC SIGNS AS PODCASTERS

11

THE HISTORY OF PODCASTING

01

IN MEMORY OF LEANN HARRIS

03

12

Welcome Message

Podcasters Your Ears Will Love

Inaugural issue!

Read about Punam Saxena, Jeanette Graham, Dameca Miller, and Dani Bevin

08

18

Listen Up!

The Art of Storytelling

Podcast listener's give their feedback

Casey Grim shares her writing process

10

22

Ask the Podcaster

Sandy Lowres

Elaine Best answers your questions about podcasting

Founder of Women Beyond Forty & host of The Good Girl Confessional podcast 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

27

OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME

38

THOSE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD: FEAR OF FAILURE

43

NETWORKING FOR PODCASTERS

29

36

Low Hanging Microphone

2021 Global Podcast Stats

The Three C's of Interviewing

It's all in the numbers - Or is it?

30

44

Podcasters Your Ears Will Love

Marketplace

Read about Karla Serrato, Sarah Sofia Serrato, Jenn Radke, Rachel Lee Perez, and Leah Walukones

Support businesses

41 SUBSCRIBE AT www.womenwhopodcastmag.com

Podcasting Tips Easy and inexpensive ways to start a podcast

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Contributors

Elaine Best Writer

Elaine Best is the host and producer of the mental health/comedy podcast Angus Eye Tea. She is a mental health advocate, writer, and comedian who spends her days by the beach with her sidekick, Fern.

Nancy R. Burger Writer Nancy R. Burger is an author, speaker, and coach who teaches actionable strategies and skills to shift fear-based thought patterns. For more information, visit www.nancyrburger.com

Natalie Boero Writer

Natalie Boero is a sociologist, professor, author, and mom of twins. In her spare time she enjoys reading, exercise, baseball, doom-scrolling, and traveling. Follow her on twitter @natalieboero.

Casey Grim Writer

Casey Grim is the co-creator of comedy duo A Couple of N3rds. She’s performed at the Purple Onion in San Francisco, San Jose Improv, and NYC’s Gotham Comedy Club.

She’s the co-host of A Couple of N3rds podcast. Visit her on Twitter @acoupleofn3rds and Instagram @arsenicandbreastmilk.

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Contributors

Rachel Lee Perez Writer

Rachel Lee Perez is the cohost of Hashtag History podcast and is a long-time History nerd. She is the author of two novels. Follow her on Instagram @hashtaghistory_pod and at www.hashtaghistory-pod.com.

Crystal Warren Writer Crystal Warren is a writer, astrologer, and self-development coach, who strives to be the architect of her life.

Learn more at insightfullycrystal.com.

Want to be a writer or contributor?

Visit us at www.womenwhopodcastmag.com

Leah Walukones Writer

Subscribe at www.womenwhopodcastmag.com

Leah Walukones is the cohost, producer, and editor of Hashtag History podcast. She is an event planner and cocktail enthusiast. Follow her on Instagram @hashtaghistory_pod and at www.hashtaghistory-pod.com.

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LISTEN UP! As podcasters, we are always calling our listeners to action in hopes of getting feedback, reviews, or support in one way or another. Sometimes we hear from listeners, while other times we wonder if anyone is actually listening.

We asked a few readers why they listen to podcasts, how podcasters can do better, and what they would like to hear from them.

My mom used to tell me stories how she and her family gathered around the radio to listen to The Shadow Knows and The Fireside Chats. The stories and the conversations brought the show into the living room to laugh, to cry and connect. These feelings of being a part of a larger community is why I listen to podcasts. Whether it is an interview or in-depth story or just a fun conversational show, as a listener I am brought into the show. Like a good book, a podcast has a narrative that allows me to participate, to feel as if the podcaster is talking to me or including me in on the secret…story.

2020 was filled with an overwhelming barrage of politics, misinformation, people screaming on the television, and just a whole lot of negativity and drama. Podcasts gave me the freedom to listen to whatever I was in the mood for: food, fun, investigative. The narrative seemed personal and a sense of normalcy. When I am about to drive for an hour, I charge up my phone, download a few shows and gather the nuggets of wisdom, humor, fun facts and more, so I smile at the person who just cut me off instead of verbally assaulting them under my breath. Cheers to podcasters who bring the past to the future.

Carol R. - U.S.A.

I’m actually fairly new to the whole “Podcast Scene.” And not that I listen to very many of them very often, but I find myself listening to them more often. I listen because I want to learn something or just be entertained without having to “watch” something, like when I’m driving or working on something creative.

I think women podcasters are (usually) the best podcasters and interviewers. They are usually more genuine and genuinely interested in the person they’re interviewing and less interested in the sound of their own voice.

So more open, fun, and genuine conversations and discussions is something podcasters could improve on.

Tammy B. - Denmark 8

I truly am the worst person ever to ponder what makes podcasts worthwhile because I’m waaaaayyyyy too strong-minded, independent, bossy and impatient to ever fit into what most people want. I know I’m usually a square peg trying to fit into a round hole, so podcasters, feel free to heed my insights with a grain of salt.

I listen to podcasts to broaden my knowledge, increase my wonder for the world, and feel renewed, invigorated, uplifted and happy about cool stuff other women are doing. I want to hear more from women podcasters in our own authentic voices.

As a podcaster, zero in on your unique way of drawing the best out of your guests. If I get annoyed because a host seems fake or disingenuous, I switch off and don’t come back.

Throw away the rule book and stop listening to the social media experts that suggest you need a slick perfected platform. The same grating long music & intro every episode pushes my menopausal Medusa buttons and makes the podcast feel impersonal. Don’t overmix it.

Stay human and keep your stuff ups (mistakes) in rather than on the editing floor. We all need to know others who are successful have oopsies, too.

Keep it real and draw us in. Let your guests shine.

Sandy D. - Australia

After I cut the cord with cable TV, listening to podcasts was an easy way to get my morning news fix. Pre-COVID, I commuted to work on (very crowded) public transport; makes the trip more pleasant, seem shorter, and allows me to tune out from the ever-present shouty, chatty, and altered folks on the train. During the Trump campaign and subsequent presidency, it was a way to limit my news “ingestion” by focusing on a few short non-partisan podcasts. Looking at his face made me super rage-y. It was an excellent way to expand my horizons, knowledge, and learn from others, particularly around racial justice issues. Some podcasts are just fun (Serial, Armchair Expert, Dolly Parton’s America). During COVID, it was a great way to participate in events I would normally attend in person.

I would love a podcast by women for women about other women; a way to raise others voices and lift folks up. I would also love to hear about women’s experiences of bias and micro and macroaggressions in the workplace and tools to combat and address them outside of [f**king] “leaning in.” I would like more podcasts that recognized intersectionality of movements, that feature and focus on non-white and/or nonhetero women.

What would make my listening experience better? Go with your gut! If you are excited or interested in something, that will come across and engage listeners. If a podcaster’s definition of women doesn’t include transwomen, I’m out. Not always easy to figure that out, but there is usually an opportunity to ask that question somewhere along the way.

Jennifer L. - U.S.A.

Are you a podcast listener who wants to share your thoughts and insights? Send us your feedback at info@womenwhopodcastmag.com.

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Ask the Podcaster

by Elaine Best

I want to start a podcast, but the topic I want to speak about is really popular and has been done before. Should I move forward with the idea or table it?

My immediate answer is that you should still go for it! If the genre is heavily saturated, you may want to brainstorm what you can do to make it unique. Easier said than done, but I’d set aside 15 minutes and do a giant brain dump on a piece of paper. What unique things about other shows do you like? Why? Don’t steal from these people, obviously, but find some inspiration. Do you like this show because of their humor? Do they have a cool segment?

You also don’t have to know this answer right away. Sometimes, it comes to you after a few episodes are under your belt!

What’s your favorite app/software that you’re using with your podcast right now?

Right now, it’s Movavi Video Suite. I have a PC and needed a very basic video editing software and so far, I’ve loved this program. It’s easy for me to create unique audiograms and upload subtitles, TikToks or Insta stories, video episodes, etc. Nothing too fancy and very user friendly!

I want to try podcasting by myself, no co host, but I’m terrified! How do you keep the conversation going with yourself? How do you sustain for a whole episode?

Solo podcasting can definitely be scary! I would recommend either writing a script or a bullet point list of things you want to cover and have it up while you record. To feel more natural, you can pretend you’re talking to a friend. Some people even print out a photo and have it in front of them as they record! Also, the benefit of recording alone is that you can mess up and no one will ever know. The joys of editing! Give yourself a chance and post that amazing episode!

How the heck do I come up with a good title for my show?

I have never been good at creating titles, so I feel you! I’d recommend making a quick list of words associated with the show, then adjectives that describe the attitude of your show or how you want your listeners to feel. Then, start slapping them together and see what fits! My show’s title came about because I was jokingly coming up with the dumbest play on words. Also, nothing has to stay permanent. A lot of shows rebrand over their tenure so if you end up hating it, you can change it!

Send us your questions for “Ask the Podcaster” at info@womenwhopodcastmag.com.

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2000

Dave Winer Creator of the RSS format

2003

Adam Curry RSS-to-iPod for blog readers

2004

Ben Hammersley Termed the word “podcasting”

2005

1st People’s Choice Podcast Awards

2019

Neilsen & Edison Research: South Korea leads with 58% monthly listeners

History of Podcasting 2003

1st BloggerCon web blogger conference

2004

Audioblog.com: 1st commercial podcasting hosting service

2005

Apple adds podcasts to iTunes

2005

“Podcasts” Google search = over 100 million hits

2021

Women Who Podcast Magazine launched 11

edu-Me by: Natalie Boero

For as long as she can remember, Punam Saxena’s life has revolved around education whether as a student, a teacher, a parent, a coach, an author, or now, a podcaster.

Like a lot of women, in her 40’s Punam found herself staring down an empty nest and wondering what would come next. Her first impulse was to start writing and for years she worked on an autobiography, but something about that project never “clicked” for her. After the youngest of her four children left for college, Punam decided to set aside the autobiography and take six months to figure out she wanted to do with this next phase in her life.

Given how long she’d been in education, Punam initially thought she wanted a break from education. As she put it, “I didn't want to do education anymore. I’m a teacher, I had volunteered in my kids schools, I didn't want anything to do with it (education), I wanted a new avenue.”

Nonetheless, she kept coming back to education and, upon reflection, she realized that education was exactly where she needed to be, but in a different way than she had been before.

Still focused on writing, Punam began thinking about writing a book on education, specifically a book to help parents navigate schools. She wanted parents to feel empowered to be involved in their children’s schools and, given her own many years of involvement in her own kids’ schools combined with her education degree, Punam knew she had found a new way to approach her passion for education. With this in mind, she found herself talking about her new book plans with an old friend over lunch. Her friend, who still had young children at home, told her that the book sounded great but that she doubted she would have time to read another book on parenting. Punam recalls that her friend was very supportive of her book idea but that her friend said, “I have two young kids I don't have time to read a book. I do, though, have time to listen to a podcast.” That same day when Punam got home, she announced to her husband that she would be starting a podcast about education. When her husband asked why she’d chosen podcasting as her next project, Punam told him that, “…it combines two of my loves, education and talking!” She also said that podcasting appealed to her because it would allow her to keep current and to express her own emotions to her listeners. At the time, she had no idea how 12 important the ability to “keep current” would be!

Having no idea about how to go about starting a podcast and a bit wary of the technology it required, Punam took several months to plan her podcast. As part of her planning and in an effort to meet other podcasters, she attended the annual PodFest conference in early March 2020, just as the COVID-19 virus was showing itself to be more than a passing flu.

It was at that conference that Punam met a group of other women podcasters who helped her plan her podcast launch and gave her much needed advice on the nitty gritty of producing a weekly podcast. She has remained friends with the group, and they continue to meet regularly.

Punam credits the group’s ongoing support, encouragement, and camaraderie for her development as a podcaster and her ability to navigate pandemic-related podcasting challenges. According to Punam, in the group “…everybody's just trying to get their work done and it's really powerful to be in a positive space, especially in a positive female space.” For her, “Part of why I've kept on (with podcasting) is the support I’ve found as a podcaster. It doesn't matter where you are in your journey, whether it's your first podcast or your hundredth. There is so much to learn from other people, and no one is judging you.”

No sooner did Punam have a plan for her podcast than she found herself having to pivot and address the rapid changes happening around education as a result of the pandemic. With schools closing and students, educators, and administrators at all levels shifting to remote learning and instruction, Punam focused her episodes on helping parents navigate this new educational landscape. She recalls thinking, “Most parents aren’t educators; how are we going to help parents survive this?”

And it wasn’t just parents. One of Punam’s earliest episodes featured her son, then a first-year 7th grade math teacher for a discussion on the challenges newer teachers faced pivoting to online teaching.

Over a year of podcasting that also happened to be a year of a pandemic, Punam has provided guidance to parents not only on educating children during this chaotic time, but she has tackled subjects like bullying, LGBT issues, self-care, and time management that will remain relevant to parents well beyond the COVID-19 era. Punam has plans to focus upcoming episodes on how parents can help their children successfully transition back into in-person learning. Throughout it all, she declares that her first year as a podcaster has been all about, “being able to share something I’ve experienced with someone else.” When asked what advice she has for other women wanting to get into podcasting Punam declares, “Just go for it! I will tell you that I never in a million years thought I could be a podcaster, but here I am!”

Along with recording weekly edu-Me podcasts and establishing her coaching business of the same name, Punam never gave up on writing that book for parents. Her book, Parent Power, is complete and will be published and available for purchase in Spring 2021!

Website: edu-me.net Instagram: @theedume Twitter: @eduME19 13

Excuse My ADHD by: Kathy Barron

When Jeanette Graham was diagnosed with ADHD four years ago, she searched out a podcast to learn more about it. She quickly realized that everything she knew about ADHD went out the door because in her mind ADHD was only for little boys. Although the podcast gave her a lot of good information, there was still something she was missing. There weren’t any podcasts about ADHD that truly resonated with her. One day while driving, Jeanette had the idea of starting her own podcast. As she says, “like all good ADHD people, we have these big grandiose ideas, 99% of which we never follow through with.” She told herself that it would be easy and something she could do.

Although it was definitely something she could do and is doing, it definitely was not easy.

It was a couple of months before she got up the courage to tell her husband about her idea. She thought he would laugh at her and chalk it up to one of those half baked ideas that she would start but never finish. But Jeanette didn’t just sit around with the idea in her head. She knew this was something she wanted to do because if she wasn’t able to find an ADHD podcast that resonated with her, there had to be others that were feeling the same way: alone, disconnected, and struggling. Jeanette was determined to make this idea a reality because she wanted to connect with people and find more people like her.

She took action and started researching what she would need to create a podcast of her own.

In doing the research, she found that there was almost too much information out there in regards to the best microphone, the most reliable host, and the most popular audio recording program. It was a lot to process and she realized that if she was going to do this, she needed to take her time and not rush through it. She was all too familiar with having a great idea, rushing through the process, getting burnt out, and then moving onto the next great thing. The podcast was something she knew she had to do for herself and for others like her. When she had done enough research and felt ready to tell her husband, to her surprise, he was very supportive and encouraging.

The first time Jeanette sat in front of the microphone, she looked at it for about a minute; she started to giggle, ran upstairs, and told her husband she couldn’t do it. One of the reasons she procrastinated so much on actually launching the podcast was because she was afraid of the microphone. Jeanette was afraid of her own voice. Her insecurities kicked in and thoughts like “nobody’s going to listen” and “why am I doing this?” cluttered her mind. She felt she had to be like all the “big” podcasters out there; be perfect, have the best microphone, the best computer.

It was hard not to compare herself to other podcasters and get caught up in the numbers.

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Once Jeanette got past her fear of talking into the microphone, it still took her several attempts to get the first episode recorded. That’s when she decided to talk off the cuff and let herself go with the flow. Well, that didn’t work out as well as she imgained.

Jeanette would start on topic but then veer off on tangents that made the episodes hard to follow. But, she found a solution in scripting her episodes. A friend also suggested she look at a picture of her best friend and pretend to talk to them. So that’s exactly what she did. Not only did the recordings go a whole lot smoother, but she got a boost of confidence when people started listening. Those people weren’t her friends, and that was the most exciting part of getting her podcast off the ground.

People have told Jeanette that she’s brave for being vulnerable and talking about living with ADHD. She doesn’t see it that way, but she understands that it’s challenging for people to be open like she is on the podcast. There’s a stigma about ADHD, and there are many people who don’t fully understand it. Even some doctors think that it’s something kids grow out of or something that isn’t real. According to Jeanette, a lot of women are misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression, which is sometimes caused by ADHD. Jeanette’s favorite podcast episode was her very first guest interview with Daniel Johnson, a member of the Scottish parliament. Being moved by a speech he had given on the parliament floor about having ADHD, Jeanette knew she wanted to talk with him, but wasn’t sure if he would reply to her emails given that she is American. Much to her surprise, Daniel Johnson agreed to an interview, and for Jeanette, it was a fun and embarrassing experience. Towards the end of the interview, her internet went down and the connection with Daniel was lost.

She finally got him back on her phone and finished the interview. Little did she know, that the last, and the best, 15 minutes of the interview didn’t record. Even though the best part wasn’t recored, it became a learning experience she wouldn’t forget.

When asked what advice she would give to women who want to start a podcast, Jeanette’s eyes lit up as she said, “Do it. Don’t let anybody tell you not to or give you reasons not to because there are podcasts for everything. If you have something to say, don’t bottle yourself up. Get it out there because somebody else probably wants to hear it. And as long as you’re still enjoying doing it and you feel like you’re making a difference, then I think that’s important as well.”

The one thing that keeps Jeanette going is the feedback she receives from listeners. The best feedback she gets is when people tell her their own stories with living with ADHD. They feel safe in confiding in her. That trust makes her feel like she’s doing something right. A few listeners have contacted Jeanette to let her know that they are getting tested for ADHD, and she genuinely wants to know how it goes for them. She is there for support and to answer any questions they may have about it.

This is her why.

Website: excusemyadhd.com Instagram: @excusemyadhd Twitter: @Excuse_MyADHD 15

BIRACIAL UNICORNS by: Kathy Barron

Typically, when you think of a unicorn you envision a white horse with a horn (that looks like an icicle) on its head, a flowing white mane and perked up tail, prancing through a magical kingdom with rainbows overhead.

Dani Belvin (photo on next page) and Dameca Miller (on the left) are not your typical unicorns. They are the hosts of Biracial Unicorns podcast, and they even call their listeners Unicorns. We’ll get more into that later.

Since 2018, the hosts have been shedding light on issues of race and gender, and other complicated topics in healthy, respectful, comical, honest, and a little geeky way. How did they come up with that name, you ask? It wasn’t by some name generator. No, that would have been too easy. They came up with a couple of names (Ambiguously Brown Women and Mixed Feelings) and gave people the power to vote. Side note: at the time, the name Mixed Feelings was already taken by another podcast. The podcast went defunct shortly after Biracial Unicorns launched. Dameca was a fan of the name Biracial Unicorns because (1) who doesn’t love the unicorn, (2) race is not mythical, and (3) someone’s biracialness is not limited to just two races. Along with the capitvating name, they loved the idea of calling their listeners unicorns.

Podcasting is not new to Dani as she previously worked on an audio and narrative drama podcast. On the other hand, Dameca, who is a comedy writer, felt like something was missing and didn’t quite know how to go about finding her voice. The two women reconnected after knowing each other in high school, and decided to create a podcast where they could continue to do social justice work on a platform that gave their voice power. They compliment each other nicely; Dani is the researcher (and damn good at it according to Dameca) and all about the data.

Whereas, Dameca is more of a people person and the heart of Biracial Unicorns. Both share a background in theatre and feel that podcasting is a natural, beautiful extension of how they tell their stories. The platform is a great way to reach a large audience and, being mixed race, they don’t hear many voices like their own.

Biracial Unicorns is so deeply rooted within Dani and Dameca and their life experiences. Being vulnerable is not easy for them (they didn’t say their full names for months) especially with the heavy topics they talk about. Having been a podcast fan for so long and knowing how invested listeners can get, Dani was scared about what listeners were going to take away from what the hosts were saying. On the other side of the spectrum, Dameca was worried that nobody was going to buy what they were selling and that no one would make space for their podcast.

With a few years of podcasting under their horns, Dani and Dameca have a bit more clarity around the development of segments and recently launched a racial toolkit to go along with episodes. Their goal of the podcast is to make space and invite people along to cultivate a community of unicorns. Apparently, a group of unicorns is called a “blessing.” Which the hosts don’t particularly like, so they’ve decided their community of unicorns is a “Legion.” 16

A “Legion of Unicorns” represents the many hues of gender and socio-economic backgrounds of people who want to pick up a tool(kit) and do the work. Dani and Dameca want to build a beautiful Legion of Unicorns who want to engage with them and each other. They want to make sure that their relationship with their listeners isn’t just a consumeristic one, but one where they all grab a shovel and dig deep.

When asked if there were any topics they wouldn’t touch, the hosts admitted they weren’t afraid of ripping open sensitive topics, but they also ask themselves what purpose the topic serves, who is it ultimately for, and where does it fit into their goal of the podcast. They also steer clear of topics they have no experience with because they feel it is disrespectful to those that do have those life experiences.

Their running list of topic ideas are a combination of listener suggestions and what they would like to talk about. Their process is multi-layered in that they take into consideration the current temperature of the world, things that are happening around them, and if the timing is right for a particular discussion. It’s a collaborative effort between Dani and Dameca where they sit down and talk through the reasons why or why not they discuss a specific topic. When asked who their fantasy guest is and why, they look at each other and laugh. “We have an ongoing joke, so that’s why we both laughed.

We say all the time that our dream guest is Trevor Noah,” says Dani. So if you’re out there Trevor, give these Biracial Unicorns a call and make their fantasy come true.

For women wanting to start a podcast, there’s no right way, or right time, or knowing everything beforehand. Dani and Dameca are firm believers of learning as you go and the podcast community is very welcoming and supportive of other podcasters. So if you get started and come up against a barrier of any kind, there are places to go for resources and people to reach out to for support. Podcasting is a great avenue for people to connect. Dameca says, “If you’re passionate about talking about something or feel there is a massive gap in the podcast world, your voice is the only one that can fill it. So just do it, and don’t let yourself or others make you believe you can’t or don’t need to. We are all in this together because we know how much sacrifice it takes.”

One thing that keeps Dani and Dameca from feeling like they aren’t spinning their wheels and feeling overwhelmed is feedback from their Unicorns. A recent email from a high school Unicorn in Scotland blew them away. She was inspired by an episode of Biracial Unicorns and decided to approach the school board in having Black history in the curriculum. The hosts read Unicorn emails during one of their episodes and the high school student wrote back to let them know how much she loved hearing them read her email. It’s moments like these that keep Dani and Dameca going back to the microphone and speaking their truth.

Instagram: @biracialunicorns Twitter: @Biracialmagic Facebook: Biracial Unicorns 17

The Art of Storytelling

by Casey Grim

There are many writers and comedians who can give you a solid formula on storytelling and how to make it interesting, passionate, and exciting. My husband, Adam McLaughlin, is one of those people. He spent a decade developing his own formula that can be used on anything to create a story worth listening to that will inspire laughter and fascination. He has the discipline to trudge onward through a story and make it into something special using this strategy, and he has spent years teaching others to do the same.

Of course, I have been his worst student. Discipline in creative writing and storytelling has not come easy for me. I am easily distracted and whimsical when it comes to my work. Being a freelance writer is like the ultimate punishment I could give myself, because I lack the maturity to follow through without hours of emotional turmoil and pouting.

I am writing this piece for the people like me, who give up on a project as soon as they storyboard it because it’s no longer exciting. For the people who find they tell a story perfectly when tired and sharing with a stranger in line at a DMV, but immediately find it all so pedantic and forced when writing it down. For you, who successfully argue with your shampoo bottle about a made up topic in the shower but then are unwilling to put the same energy into the exact same debate with another human because you’re already bored.

I hope this helps. Or, at least, I hope I don’t get distracted while writing this.

To me, storytelling is like the open sea. It is both inviting and cruel, at one moment you are in love with delving into its waters and observing all the beautiful details of its inhabitants, the next moment you are cold and wet and tired of it and just want to get back to land. To a beginner, it seems very riveting while easy, like hopping on a sailboat for a short trek around the bay, watching dolphins giggle and play at the water’s surface, making it all so effortless. But, as you attempt to become serious about it, you realize that the grizzled and romantic appearance of those who spend their time in the waves is because they are burnt out, exhausted, and forcing themselves to dive in again and again for that brief moment of a-ha and beauty.

Water is what I picture when I think of storytelling. Stories, fact and fiction, are fluid and ever-changing and inconsistent in both how they are presented and received. I like to tell myself that’s where the term “Stream of Consciousness” came from. You are basically letting your thoughts and memories and dreams flow like a stream, gently guiding it with the basic foundations of communication, but also preparing yourself for the unexpected as stories, like water, will go as they please and you cannot force them back to your originally intended path, at least not very easily.

When I realized that, I learned how I tell stories. I cannot plan my story. I cannot outline or begin with an ending or a message or a moral. I simply show up to the place where I would like it to start, place stones and carve the ground into the shape I’m hoping for, then watch the story flow in whatever direction it chooses. For a long time, it enraged me. I wanted to write books, fantasy, stories about characters that can fly or do magic. But each time I tried, I would get the first third of the book down and realize I was now off on a totally different story. I would try to force myself back in line and get bored and avoid my project for years until it all just looked like rotten fruit in the back of the fridge.

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For some reason my process works for me, but it sure doesn’t look impressive when typed out.

I have found my path through my stories, which is the path of least resistance. Where some machete, I choose to duck. Where others will forge a stream, I will wander its banks. Look at this article! I was asked to write of the art of storytelling and now I have no clue what I’m doing!

I guess what I’m trying to say is, if you find passion in storytelling but the tried and true methods of others don’t work for you, don’t give up. Everyone is unique, every story is different, every method is tailored to the abilities of the very person who created it. You can find your method. It may sound “wrong” to others, but if it works for you then you’ve done your job.

Don’t focus on what you think you should be doing, just do it. Let the story guide you, or you guide the story, or you and the story just walk together until you end up at the Circle K in the next town over.

And, while you find your method, also bask in feedback. Gorge yourself on criticism like a warm batch of cookies, fresh from the oven and smelling of sweet unbiased reaction. You will write something badly, and when someone tells you and helps you understand why it is bad, you must try to love that moment because it’s a moment in which you quietly got better, because now you know. And now you can try again.

So, what am I trying to say? Let go, unleash your thoughts, spill them onto the page without worrying about where they’re going. You can look back on it later and add bridges and reeds and whatever you want to make the stream look the way you’d like, but first you just need to let it flow. And maybe you’ll end up with a totally different story from what you’d planned on.

So long as it draws your listener or reader in, you’ve done your job.

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ZODIAC S PODCA

by Crystal

Aries: A powerhouse inspirational speaker who empowers and motivates others to be the leader in their own lives, to get going, and to take action on whatever it is. With a fiery, quick, and impulsive way about their speech, this podcaster doesn’t spend much time planning out what they’re going to talk about, allowing their passion to lead the way instead.

Taurus: This podcaster is a hands on sign who wants to go in-depth about their field of interest, whether it be knowledge of the past, gardening, DIY projects, money and savings, or even delighting in their indulgences and sharing their thoughts and opinions about it - whatever their expertise, their episodes will be thorough, lengthy and informative.

Inviting guest experts who are well-respected in their field to shed additional insights.

Gemini: Podcasting is perfect for this sign, who has a natural way with words. Just give them a mic, and they’ll share whatever information they’ve learned or experiences they’ve gone through. They are great storytellers who love connecting with others. There may even be a mental health twist to their show, as this sign is most related to the mind.

It’s likely it would be a variety show with solo episodes as well as relevant guests to interview. Witty and quirky, they’ll be sure to give you tons of laughs as well.

Cancer: A homey, nurturing, family-oriented sign that loves to cook and wants everyone to feel welcome. This podcaster talks about all things food, cooking, restaurants, and the community surrounding the kitchen from foodies to chefs. They may even talk about the home and family life dynamics, like being a stay-at-home parent and their hacks in the kitchen.

Leo: All that glitters is gold, says this podcaster, who is all about creative expression.

From fashion and makeup, theater and comedy, or even singing and entertaining, it doesn’t matter the outlet, they just love to have fun and be in the spotlight as a means to uplift others and make them laugh.

Virgo - Fitness, health, and wellbeing is the name of the game for this podcaster. This sign is all about self-optimization and streamlining processes, so you’ll hear a lot about health regimens, dietary protocols, fitness hacks, and overall routines to get your mind and body feeling and moving right. This sign loves to learn, so expect tons of research and context to go behind their topics and guests.

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SIGNS AS ASTERS Warren

Libra: this sign is all about fairness, social harmony, love, and balance. So it’s no surprise that this podcaster would be a “Dear Abby,” of sorts, taking in questions from listeners focused on relationship, workplace, and homelife dynamics. They are the mediators who can see both sides, and bring balance to all perspectives.

Scorpio: Murder mysteries, occult topics, secret societies, psychological behavior, and sexual prowess - this podcaster loves to explore all things taboo and provocative. They will push the boundaries on their topics, where most won’t dare to go. Thriving on shock and visceral reactions, expect the unexpected with their raw and unfiltered episodes, as they navigate subjects we don’t commonly talk about.

Sagittarius: Travel, education, culture - this podcaster will take you around the world and teach you the ins-and-outs of each place they visit - bringing on local guest experts to teach about the culture, local trades, and philosophy of the areas they visit, as well as how to travel mindfully and respectfully.

Capricorn: Career, entrepreneur, and leadership oriented - this sign is all about financial independence, creating startups, and anything to do with climbing that ladder.

They’re headstrong, determined, and resolute, who want to encourage others through leading by example and being the mentors we all look up to. Focusing on first hand knowledge from leaders in relevant fields, this podcast will be your go-to for all things business.

Aquarius: Get ready to think outside of the box with this one. This is the scientist, activist, and humanitarian, who wants to improve and advance society for the better.

This podcaster is an advocate for the unheard stories and perspectives that could one day make an impact on our future. Sustainability, eco-friendly, preservation, and creating a better world for future generations will be the focus of their episodes.

Pisces: The dreamer and peacemaker, this sign is all about creative arts and spirituality.

It’s no surprise you’ll find your meditation, dream, and spiritual podcasts under this sign. We’re all one, swimming in a sea of love baby, says this podcaster, and that’s the goal of their episodes. To relax, open your mind up to the vastness of our interconnectedness, and remind you that you are not alone in this hectic world.

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SANDY LOWRES by: Natalie Boero

Back in 2013, Australian podcaster Sandy Lowres found herself a newly-divorced 40-something mother of two teenagers suddenly navigating dating, new relationships, and sex with a different person for the first time in 18 years. The new world of online dating and dating apps, combined with the familiar patriarchal pressures on women to, “brush our pain and experiences under the rug and be ‘good girls’” made Sandy realize that she wasn’t ready to slip into the invisibility often expected of women over forty because there was so much she wanted to say and do in this new stage of life. Thus, started her blog, The Good Girl Confessional to write about her experiences as a woman over forty heading back into the dating world.

According to Sandy, she primarily started the blog because, “I sort of wanted to embrace myself as a woman-as a single woman- I wanted to embrace my sexuality. I didn’t think I was done because I was past the age of forty…It was a bit of a finger, if you like, to the societal pressures and patriarchal pressures that are placed on women…That we’re meant to be quiet, to be good girls.”

With teenage children and given the candor and honesty with which she discussed sexuality, dating, divorce, and grief, Sandy initially wrote her blog under a pseudonym. She describes the blog as, “A full- blown confessional where I was just going to talk about my experiences as I went through it.” Through the blog, she built a “very small, but very loyal” following of women who had similar experiences to hers, as women in their forties and beyond. Eventually, Sandy found herself broadening her focus beyond her own experience and taking on bigger topics relevant to women and began inviting guest bloggers to write for the blog and share their experiences and stories. Having other women write about their lives on the blog made Sandy more interested in having actual conversations with women about the issues they cared about and, given the growth in popularity of podcasting at the time, one morning she declared to her boyfriend that she was going to start a podcast and, just like that, The Good Girl Confessional podcast was born.

Moving past her initial fear that no one would listen and that she didn’t really know what she was doing, Sandy (with some technical help from her boyfriend) got down to podcasting with her driving motivation that she, “Just really wanted to have a platform where really interesting women could tell their stories and, I feel like every woman is interesting!” Central to everything she does with her podcast, and now her magazine, is her staunch belief that, “If you scratch the surface, every woman’s got a story.”

From her earliest episodes, Sandy’s guests have been women over forty who have overcome obstacles like sexism, ageism, mental health challenges, and racism to build businesses, raise families, raise consciousnesses, create, and live full and fascinating lives at an age when society often makes women invisible.

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Sandy describes her podcasting style as relaxed and informal, recounting that, “what I realized really early on, was that I wanted it to be conversational just like if you and I were sitting here, having coffee or a drink, or whatever.” That conversational style has paid off in making guests feel comfortable opening up and sharing experiences and parts of themselves that can educate and help other women. While she describes herself as someone who, “could talk the leg off a chair,” Sandy has learned that her best skill as a podcaster is to listen, as she puts it, “I'm just kind of humbled I just get to sit here and introduce them [guests] and then listen to these amazing stories… my job is really just to guide now, and I tend to sit back a lot more, and just listen.”

This ability to listen and guide has resulted in The Good Girl Confessional building a loyal following, and the podcast is now a key part of Sandy’s larger Women Beyond Forty (WB40) business which now includes not only the podcast but a website, and a new print and online magazine, Women Beyond Forty. Sandy describes Women Beyond Forty as “…a magazine where ideas can be discussed and conversations started” and according to the WB40 mission statement, “Woman Beyond Forty is an online publication for women who want to support other women, and help each other to rise. We are intent on spreading a message of sisterhood, encouraging self love and self care.”

Indeed, with only two issues out so far, the magazine has already covered topics like Covid and the arts, inclusive fashion, emotional labor, peri-menopause, job changes, and much more. As with the podcast, the magazine showcases the stories of everyday women and aims to be, “…an inclusive and diverse space” in which to celebrate and support women over forty.

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Sandy sees The Good Girl Confessional and WB40 as more than the sum of its parts, indeed, according to her website (wb40.com), Women Beyond Forty “…is more than a magazine, more than a podcast, more than a website. It is a philosophy that all women beyond forty have incredible hard-won wisdom and have much to offer the world.” As with the guests on her podcast, the magazine and WB40 in general, is built on collaboration “…with a wide range of women – both those who tell their stories and those that share with us through their writing, editing and creative skills.” Sandy is excited to have people suggest article and podcast topics, sign up to write for the magazine, and in general contribute to making the WB40 enterprise a true collective effort.

Sandy’s work through WB40 recently earned her a 2020 “ROAR: Wildcat of the Year” award as an Australian woman entrepreneur. Her mission however extends beyond being a creative project or business, for Sandy it is all about empowering women, listening to women, and giving women a platform to tell their stories. “I always say when women start to collaborate with one another, magic happens,” she explains.

Sandy took what started as a blog to process her own life transitions and, through the medium of podcasting, turned it into a global collaborative community of women “beyond” forty that will only continue to grow!

Website: wb40.com Instagram: @womenbeyondforty @thegoodgirlconfessional Twitter: @GoodGirlTalk 25

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Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

by Elaine Best

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent” -Eleanor Roosevelt Imposter syndrome can stick to us like a shadow. It creeps in behind each success and asks us pesky questions: “Is this just luck? A string of weird coincidences? I don’t know what I’m doing. When are they all going to figure out I’m a fraud?” These thought patterns can inhibit us from not only relishing in our wins but from striking out into unknown territory, preventing us from amazing growth and opportunities.

Podcasting is a vulnerable art. It doesn’t matter what your subject is--you are showing up to the mic and speaking to the world. In turn, that means the world is listening to you. And that world has opinions, which can be terrifying. To have a podcast is to say that you believe you have something of importance to say. For some of us, we question that every day.

The joy of imposter syndrome is that it can happen to anyone. I’ve known incredibly successful women podcasters who doubt a lot of their moves. Are they qualified to speak at an event on their subject? Could they really land that guest? When will everyone find out that it’s all been a lie? And so on, and so on.

To help you navigate these negative thought patterns, we’ve listed some tips below for you to try out.

Write it down.

Our brains are tricky little pranksters and will sometimes forget how and why we got here. Take a second to write down everything that you have accomplished. Don’t try to add notes on how this only happened because the moon was in this part in the sky or you had extra caffeine that day or that you came across a magical witch in a forest who gave you beans. It happened! And you are the one who did it. Celebrate it and stick that note where you’ll see it every day to remind you that you are doing amazing things.

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Fake it ‘til you make it.

When you think, “I’m an imposter!” what does that actually mean to you? That you aren’t qualified to do what you do? That you are less than? Well, the truth is that no one started off qualified to do what they do. Independent podcasters learn their trade as they go. We gather in Slack chats and social media posts to band together to figure out our next move. There’s no shame in being a beginner. If you act like you deserve it, people will treat you like you do. The chance that someone will DM you and say, “This is an act! You suck!” is slim to none. If they do, they are the problem, not you. Believe in yourself, or try to, and soon it will be true.

Boldly claim it.

I enjoy being funny. I have a comedic podcast, I enjoy comedic writing, I dabble in improv...I’m funny. Yet, I refuse to ever claim it because what if I’m not funny enough? Who am I to say that I am funny? I forced myself on my Clubhouse profile to change my vague bio that claimed I “enjoy comedy” to saying I’m a comedian. It was incredibly uncomfortable at first but as of now, no one has run up to my door with pitchforks. No one has DM’d me saying “how dare you!” It is what it is and I am what I am. Boldly claim what you do and what you podcast about. Be confident in your show. Refraining from owning your work will only inhibit you in your work.

Are they really that much better than you?

So...I’m going to let you in on a little secret. People can buy followers. People can buy reviews.

People can buy guests. People can even buy downloads. Imposter syndrome has to have something to compare itself to, so if you’re scrolling through Instagram and seeing everyone with amazing podcast stats, interactions, courses, etc., just know that all may not be as it appears.

Right now, I could go on Canva, make a graphic, and upload to my Insta that I surpassed one million downloads. Nothing is stopping me. I can create a course called Elaine’s Guide to Taco Bell that costs $1,100 to join without ever having eaten at Taco Bell (no worries, I’m a frequent regular). Not everyone is fake, but you should be wary of what you believe is “the standard.” The genuine folks? Follow and support them, but still remember we only see what people choose to let us see.

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Low Hanging Microphone The 3 C’s of Interviewing by: Kathy Barron

CURIOSITY vCuriosity is key to getting started. vWhen your curiosity about a person or topic is genuine, it’s easier to ask interesting and thought provoking questions. vResearch the person by reading their “About” webpage, read a book or articles they’ve written, or listen to interviews they’ve given.

CREATIVITY vCreate questions that you truly want to know the answer to. vWhat are you curious to know about the person or topic? vBe unique in the questions you ask - not the usual talking points. vListen to other interviews the person has given to discover follow up questions the interviewer didn’t ask

CONVERSATION vMake the interview more like a conversation; casual and flexible. vAsk your questions and also listen to the answer; it may spark another question or a follow up question. vAllow conversation to happen organically and at a comfortable, easy pace. vAllow the interviewee time to think about their answer. If they don’t fully answer the question, you can always follow up for clarification.

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Potty Mouth Poopcast by: Kathy Barron

When I sat down with the sister duo, Karla and Sarah Sofia Serrato, to talk about their podcast, I wasn’t expecting to feel so at home discussing poop. They made talking about poop easy like Sunday morning after drinking a few cups of coffee to help you stay regular. My first question was “what’s your fascination with poop?” They both looked at each other to see who was going to divulge the family secret.

“It's always been just like a fun light hearted thing in our family instead of like something to hide from or to not talk about,” says Sarah Sofia. “It usually brings a lot of laughter.

It makes us feel vulnerable, but at the same time, safe and protected.” Karla chimes in, “it's the way for the men in our family to say ‘I love you’.” “Yeah and with our culture it's like they have to find other ways, because, like to actually say ‘I love you’ is like, oh no you're not as manly,” added Sarah Sofia.

Growing up, the two sisters weren’t taught that talking about poop was taboo. It was just a healthy part of life that happens. However, when it came to their friends, they were quick to realize that not everyone is as comfortable talking about poop as they were.

The podcast name came naturally to them, and as Karla recalled, “it really felt like how an artist says that the painting is there, they just had to uncover it.” It all started when Sarah Sofia started listening to podcasts and asked Karla if she wanted to start one with her. Karla was a new mom and didn’t feel like she had the time to invest in the venture. Fast forward eight months later, Karla was getting into “This American Life: Serial Series," and found herself open to the idea of starting a podcast. Of course, this was after Karla listened to a podcast about how to start a podcast.

One thing that stuck with Karla when she listened to episodes of how to start a podcast was picking a topic. Not just any topic but one that can be talked about for a long time or have variations of so episodes are interesting and entertaining. So the hosts asked themselves what could they naturally always talk about forever until they died. They wondered how many episodes they could actually have where it’s just non stop literal diarrhea of the mouth and talking about poop.

Karla and Sarah Sofia came up with an idea to include other taboo topics such as hairy armpits and legs, colon cancer, and public restroom etiquette.

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Karla feels that the whole point of their podcast is to push through the uncomfortableness of talking about certain things so they, and their listeners, can learn and evolve. Their first few (or five) episodes didn’t smell like roses though. To begin with, Karla had trouble even listening to the shows intro music (spoiler alert: it has fart noises) and felt that if she was offended by it then other people would be super annoyed and immediately turn it off. But it also let listeners know right off the bat what they were getting into and that there is no shame in the sister’s game.

When recording their first episode, they took into consideration things like the acoustics of a room, background noises (like dogs barking), or Karla eating because she was hungry. Even though the beginning was a bit rough, they persevered and recommend anyone who is interested in starting a podcast to be ready for the work. Start with asking yourself “would you still do it if you knew only one person was listening?” Everyone’s journey is different and knowing why you want to do the podcast is a good start.

The pandemic halted all plans of a state podcast tour, so they had to find creative ways to get in front of people without doing it in person. Karla created two videos that she felt a lot of people could use; “What is a Podcast?” and “How to Listen to a Podcast” which were posted on social media. Some things the sisters wished they knew before starting their podcast are the behind-the-scenes stuff like researching topics, writing show notes, and podcast promotion. The consistent commitment to producing the podcast has been a game changer for them and they have noticed when they are consistent, so is their listenership. Karla and Sarah Sophia want people who are either closed off or weren’t really allowed to talk about poop to listen to their podcast so they can experience how freeing it is to talk about. They want people to know that it’s okay to be vulnerable and talk about their bodily functions because it’s a normal and natural thing for humans to do.

When it came to their family, they didn’t want their parents to listen to their podcast, but when they did and didn’t freak out, it gave the sisters validation. When asked about the most rewarding and the most challenging part of doing their podcast, Sarah Sophia jokingly points to Karla on both accounts. Being the oldest, she always shooed Karla away when they were growing up. Now, as adults, the best part of doing the podcast is being able to hang out with Karla (her favorite person in the world) and telliing each other poop jokes. It’s also easy to say “I just can’t today” because they know they’ll love each other no matter what. One thing that Sarah Sophia finds the most challenging is the topic research. She totally appreciates Karla and the work she puts into getting information but doesn’t like all the reading she needs to do to prepare for episodes. But with anything else, she’ll keep doing it because she knows it’s like a muscle that needs to be worked out. Just like the sphincter muscle.

Instagram: @pottymouthpoopcast Twitter: @poop_cast 31

Fat Girl Book Club by: Natalie Boero

Anyone who has ever searched for a podcast knows that there is no shortage of podcasts about books. There are podcasts about all aspects of books and reading, podcasts for virtually every genre of book, podcasts featuring author interviews, podcasts recommending books, and the list goes on. Yet there is likely only one podcast where the host invites various fat-positive scholars, artists, activists and more to select a book, read it, and then have a book club type discussion with its host. This podcast, which debuted in 2019 is called Fat Girls Book Club and it was created and is hosted by body image coach, Jenn Radke. According to Jenn’s podcast description, in each episode of Fat Girls Book Club she “…get(s) my guests to read a book in the Fat Acceptance/Body Positive/ Health at Every Size space and I talk to them about it.”

Broadly speaking. Jenn got into podcasting in a way similar to many women podcasters- as a way to connect with others during a life transition. In Jenn’s case, she was unhappy in an alienating corporate job and listening to podcasts became a way for her to find connection with others. Eventually, Jenn left her corporate job and her interest in podcasts started to transform into an interest in podcasting, but like many others, Jenn didn’t to know where to start in creating her own podcast.

Indeed, Jenn found herself both inspired and intimidated by the podcasts and podcasters who had become such an important source of connection for her. As she put it, “If you're reading a good book and you want to be a writer, you feel a little deflated sometimes- not because what you're reading is so amazing- but because you're like, ‘I'm not sure I could actually write like that.’ So, it's the same thing with podcasting. I think I was a little intimidated because I'd been listening to these podcasts and I'd hear these amazing people talking to other amazing people and I was like, ‘I don't think I can do that.’”

Over time, Jenn took “baby steps” toward starting her podcast – accumulating equipment, talking to friends, and doing research. Finally, Jenn says, “I got myself in a more stable place and I said, well, you know, Jenn, you've always wanted to do this.” And The Fat Girl Book Club was born. When deciding on a format for her podcast Jenn initially considered doing what many other book-related podcasts do and feature author interviews. This however presented the challenge of actually booking the authors whose books she wanted to read. The author interview format also left little room for flexibility and fun tangents - and even less room to really critique books.

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In terms of the subject matter of the books she showcases, Jenn’s journey as a podcaster started on the heels of another life-changing (and ongoing) journey, the journey to body acceptance and fat liberation. Jenn recalls reading the book Health at Every Size (The Surprising Truth About Your Weight) by Dr. Lindo Bacon and starting to question everything she had learned about weight, health, diet culture, and her own larger body and, this in turn made he want to read more books on the topic, “So the next thing you know, I'm like knee-deep in all of these different books and I wanted to talk to somebody about them and, and I didn't have anybody in my life I could talk to about them.” So, Jenn made a list of fat acceptance/ body liberation books she wanted to read and then invited on guests who were somehow connected to the Health at Every Size™ perspective, fat politics, fat studies, or fat art to discuss the books with her, “People are able to go off on tangents. They're like, ‘well, this is what I got out of this. And that kind of brought up this and brought up that,’ and they're pulling things from all over the place. This is what a person gets out of a book when they're reading it, the discussion is never linear.” Though she is an avid reader, Jenn quicky realized that given the preparation she needed for each episode, that a weekly podcast wouldn’t work and so, Fat Girl Book Club quickly moved to a bi-weekly format, where it remains.

What is critically important to Jenn is that both her podcast and the books she features are fat positive, not only body positive – a term and movement that has been coopted by diet companies and influencers alike. As Jenn rightly points out, there are literally hundreds -maybe thousands- of dieting and weight loss podcasts out there, and, to unabashedly focus on body liberation and fat positivity makes The Fat Girl Book Club really stand out. Keeping the focus on fat positivity is also in line with Jenn’s coaching business, I Wish I Were Me (iwishiwereme. com) where Jenn offers body imagine coaching from a weight-neutral, non-dieting perspective. Jenn offers one-on-one coaching, group coaching, and online courses to “…[coach] women to feel comfortable in their skin without a diet.” Jenn tries to keep her coaching practical because, “…if we are in larger bodies and we feel ourselves not being accepted because of the size of our bodies, we need really practical things that we can do. And that's what I try to give people.”

While Jenn sees her podcast and her coaching business as connected and talks about her coaching on her podcast, she also sees them as separate but complementary endeavors built around making space for a revisioning of a fatphobic world through fat-positive books, and body image coaching.

Website: iwishiwereme.com Instagram: @fatgirlbookclubpod Twitter: @iwishiweremetwt 33

Hashtag History by: Kathy Barron

Whether you’re a history nerd or history hater, Hashtag History podcast has you covered.

Hosts, Rachel Lee Perez and Leah Walukones, will not only feed your addiction of history facts and tidbits, they have a cocktail for each episode for those who absolutely need alcohol to learn about history.

The duo have known each other for seven years and when Rachel, who’s the history nerd and podcast junkie, brought up the idea of a podcast to Leah, Leah couldn’t say no and felt like she was a good yin to Rachel’s yang. Especially when it came to bouncing ideas off of each other, creating the logo, and deciding which history topics to cover. Now that their first episode is history, we can talk about how they were both so excited to record it. Having put so much time and effort into thoroughly researching their first topic, Rachel and Leah were ill-prepared technically. Neither of them had a working microphone. Rachel didn’t have a microphone stand so she improvised by shoving her microphone into a cardboard box to stabilize it, and the sound quality of the first few episodes was not so great. Leah was feeling some serious imposter syndrome but pushed it aside telling herself that no one except her friends would be listening anyway.

On that front, she couldn’t have been more wrong.

After a year and half, Hashtag History has created a community of listeners way past the number of friends they were thinking would listen. They kind of like having those embarrassing, not technically savvy episodes out there for people to listen to because it shows how far they’ve come in a very short time. Since their first episode, Rachel and Leah have figured out a good format and flow to the show as well as honed their sound quality skills. They feel more relaxed and confident with each episode they record.

As much as they adore their history loving community, their fantasy audience are actually those people that don’t like history. Rachel’s ultimate goal with the podcast is to reach an audience of so-called “history haters” so she can show them there is something for everyone to love about history. It just needs to be the right topic with the right delivery (and the cocktails don’t hurt either). Speaking of topics, the two hosts differ when it comes to people or events they won’t ever talk about on the podcast. Leah has sworn that she will not talk about American History on any of her takeover episodes and even though Rachel is overtly obsessed with Abraham Lincoln, he’s one historical figure she wouldn’t attempt to cover. Only because it could be its own 34 podcast series that would likely end up being 12,000 episodes long. We’ll drink to that!

One challenge they don’t have is coming up with episode topic ideas. As a history major, Rachel has a plethora of history topics, events, and people that she’s been fascinated (and obsessed) with for many years. While researching particular topics, she finds herself going down a rabbit hole which she ends up adding to her ever growing future topics list. Their community of listeners have also added to that list and have been an inspiration for a number of their episodes.

When it comes to deciding which episode of Hashtag History is their favorite, Leah stems her love for certain episodes by the cocktails that are paired with them. For example, her favorite cocktail is the Florence Fizz which was paired with their Leonardo Da Vinci deep dive in season three. If she had to pick from just the topic alone, Leah’s favorite is the Sinking of the Titanic episode. Although it was a difficult decision for Rachel, she particularly liked the episode about Anita Hill. She loved the opportunity to discuss this amazing woman in history and to have the chance to open up the topic of sexual harassment and the things that women experience in the workplace.

For anyone looking to start a podcast, Rachel and Leah strongly encourage to just do it. The hosts suggest selecting a topic you are truly invested in and passionate about. Sound quality is important but overall have fun with it and give yourself some grace. Like all podcasters, you have to start somewhere.

Rachel and Leah emphasize that the most rewarding aspect of podcasting is receiving positive feedback form listeners. Hearing how listeners are empowered by their work makes all the difference. The network they have created because of the podcast has also been rewarding. Having such a tight-knit, supportive, and wide-ranging community because of the podcast has been both inspiring and humbling for both.

With rewards come challenges, and the one thing that Leah wished she had more of is time.

While Rachel seems to have super human powers and is able to juggle a lot more than the average person, Leah finds herself overwhelmed at times. Her solution? She carves out a time each week where she closes the door on reality and goes back in time to focus only on the podcast.

Although Rachel and Leah love to talk about history and how it repeats itself, they would like to see women podcasters continue to grow and come into their own. They want even more women to feel empowered in starting the podcasts of their dreams and experience what they have over the years with building a supportive and inspiring community of listeners and fellow podcasters.

Website: hashtaghistory-pod.com Instagram: @hashtaghistory_podcast Twitter: @HashtagHistory_ 35

2021 U.S. Podcast Stats Source: Podcasthosting.org

55% 49% Women 51% Men of the U.S. population has listened to a podcast

Age of Listeners:

16 Million people are “avid podcast fans”

104 Million people listen to podcasts every month

55 & Older 20%

35-54 32%

12-34 48%

68 Million people listen to podcasts weekly

Listening Habits

65% 90% listen at home 19% increase speed 64% listen while driving number of listen to all or most 6 subscribed shows 93% of each episode have been listening for less than 3 years

36 Comedy, education, and news are the most popular podcasting genres

2021 Global Podcast Stats

Source: Podcasthosting.org

CANADA

91%

27%

listen at home

24%

increase speed

listen at work

18%

listen on public transporation

85% PODCAST ADS STATS

54%

are more likely to consider the brand advertised

Mobile podcasting increased from

59% to 75%

35%

AUSTRALIA

9%

45%

listen while driving

listen while working out listen on a mobile device

listen while driving

81%

listen at home

72%

of people who have listened to a podcast for four or more years have made a purchase

81%

pay attention to podcast ads

60%

bought something from podcast ad 37

Those Voices In Your Head: Fear of Failure

by Nancy Burger

So, you want to start your own podcast, but every time you think about it those little voices in your head join in a deafening symphony of “SERIOUSLY? WHO WOULD EVER WANT TO LISTEN TO YOU????”

Know that you are not alone.

Fear of failure is not only common but pervasive, rearing its pesky head whenever we entertain cutting a different path for ourselves, trying a new adventure, or dipping a toe out of our comfort zone.

And while that doesn’t mean you should listen to those voices - you might want to figure out where they come from.

There Is no such thing as Fearlessness

Let us be perfectly clear: fearlessness is a fallacy. It simply does not exist. In the first place, without fear we would not have survived as a species (think lion and tiger buffet). Fear is a natural, organic, human emotion that we all face from time to time, one that is impossible (and unwise) to completely eradicate. It alerts us to immediate threats and tells us to get out of harm’s way---before our logical brains even have a chance to think about it (imagine if you stopped to weigh options as a car careened in your direction).

But that knee-jerk, fight-or-flight fear response isn’t the only one we have.

As humans have evolved, so has our relationship with fear. While we rarely face tigers, we experience a host of other uncomfortable feelings, worries, concerns and anxieties, nagging ruminations that live under our skin and bubble up regularly. The fear of failure is among those, triggered when we contemplate branching out into a new chapter of life, a new relationship, applying for a job, eating sushi, or - starting a podcast.

But the fear of failure, like most fear-based thoughts, is a function of how you approach the broader notion of fear. And that is determined by your unique life experience.

Your Fear Journey

We each cultivate our own unique relationship with fear over our lifetimes based on first family dynamics and our special cocktail of life experiences, events, and relationships.

For example, while some of us may cringe at the idea of singing in front of people, it’s a breeze for others---maybe because they grew up singing in front of family members. But those same people may completely freeze at the thought of entering the grocery store because of a traumatic experience they endured as a child. So, while fear means different things to each of us, it represents a treasure trove of information that can help us better understand what makes us tick - and what needs attention.

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That means that those deeply rooted, fear-based thought patterns that whisper you can’t, you’re not good enough, you’re going to blow it are precisely the thoughts that warrant further exploration. Once you can shine a light on them, understand, and accept them, you can reframe them.

Unlike feelings, thoughts are choices we make. And we can choose differently, in ways that serve us better.

This is not my idea.

Neuroscientists call it neuroplasticity—the capacity of the brain’s neurons and neural networks to change its connections in response to new information.

Put another way, we can shift our brain’s circuitry by learning new skills, having new experiences, even by thinking about things differently.

Failure as a Bridge to Success Like fear, failure means different things to different people. For some it may be attached to losing money, while for others it may mean public humiliation or rejection. But regardless of how you define failure, you have the power to redefine it by changing your thought patterns around it.

• According to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, “Failure is not optional. It comes part and parcel with invention.”

• Two-time gold medalist Mia Hamm says, “Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.”

• The late Sir Ken Robinson, a celebrated British author, argued, “If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original.”

They are not alone. A 2018 Ernst & Young survey of 1,400 Gen Zers revealed that 80% believe failure at work can boost innovation. And a recent study conducted by Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management showed that early career failures led to greater successes later.

Practice Makes Possible I am not suggesting that this is an easy process. Learning any new skill takes time, commitment, and practice. But like riding a bike, learning a new language, or eating yellow tail - it starts with changing your inner dialogue and leaning into the things that make you uncomfortable. Because that’s where big change can happen.

What do you say? Maybe it’s time to get busy failing.

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Podcasting Tips & Tricks Starting a Podcast: Easy and Inexpensive Ideas

by Rachel Lee Perez & Leah Walukones

Podcasts are a great, accessible, and entertaining way to deliver information. As a podcaster, it is a great tool and opportunity to share your knowledge, passion, and expertise.

Starting a podcast is a big commitment. Researching, content writing, recording, editing, and promoting for the podcast are all a dedication of time. But that does not mean it has to be expensive. In fact, did you know that you can start a podcast for under $40.00?

First things first; you need a microphone. Our recommendation would be a dynamic microphone which you can find for as little as $40.00. You might be tempted to purchase a condenser microphone because they are generally less expensive, however they are built to pick up even the slightest of sounds.

Dynamic microphones, on the other hand, are built to pick up only the sounds intentionally projected into the microphone and naturally mask most background noises. Very few things are more important than sound quality when it comes to podcasting. Even if your content is amazing, many listeners will shut off your podcast minutes in if the sound quality is less than ideal.

Acquiring editing software is the next step in starting a podcasat. Adobe Audition, part of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, is great for editing and recording. This editing software requires a bit more know-how and training. For beginners, Audacity is highly recommended as it is a free and easy-to-use audio editor and recording software. It has everything a beginning podcaster will need, minus a few superfluous bells and whistles.

Finding a platform that allows you to distribute and publish your podcast is the final step.

There are many platforms for podcasters such as Anchor, Libsyn, and Buzzsprout. Some platforms, like Anchor, are a free service and so easy to use. All of these podcast platforms distribute to Apple, Google, Spotify, and others.

Something as simple as recording your podcast while sitting at an uncovered table can lead to poor sound quality. If you are recording at a table that does not have a soft tablecloth or blanket drawn over it, your voice can easily echo off of the hard surface and ruin the overall sound quality of your recording. A general rule of thumb is to cover all hard surfaces in the room (floors, tables, or walls) with blankets or towels in order to reduce any unfortunate echo.

Soundproof drapes for the windows, hanging blankets all throughout the room or using sound panels before each recording will help in making your audio sound warm and inviting.

Anyone and everyone can start a podcast. Making sure you have the right equipment and environment for your podcast will go a long way. Then you can devote your time and attention to doing what you love!

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Networking for Podcasters by: Kathy Barron

Podcasting can feel solitary at times. When we get behind the mic, most of us are staring at our own reflection in the computer screen. There’s a lot we can do on our own when it comes to recording and promoting our podcast. One task we can't do alone is growing our podcast to its fullest potential.

Many of us think networking is a four-letter word that is only whispered in back alleys. A lot of podcasters are introverts and just the thought of talking into a microphone and letting others hear what they have to say takes a lot of energy and courage. Even though it’s not something we signed up for when we decided to launch a podcast, connecting with other podcasters is important in order to build relationships and create a support system. Networking also helps get the word out about you and your podcast.

One thing I’ve noticed about the podcast community is that there isn’t a sense of competition among podcasters. There is mutual respect and understanding that podcasters have their own unique way of doing their show. Each of us have our own life experiences, stories, and backgrounds to share to the world.

An effective way of getting new listeners is being a guest on other podcasts. This gives you an opportunity to gain more exposure and introduce yourself to people who may not have found your podcast otherwise. Podcasters are natural collaborators and are working towards a common goal of sharing stories that inspire, educate, and entertain their audience. Reach out to podcasters that you enjoy listening to and have a common thread in regards to both of your podcast topics and/or themes. In return, you would have them as a guest on your show.

Promoting each other’s episode on social media will also help with getting the word out about your podcast.

Social media has changed the face of networking. You don’t need to physically be in a crowded room to meet other podcasters. Platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Clubhouse allow you to e-troduce yourself and your podcast without too much stress and anxiety.

Many in-person podcasting conferences went virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19. This gave people, who may not have been able to attend in-person, the opportunity to experience the virtual event without leaving their house. Although it’s never the same as being physically at a conference, having the chance to meet other podcasters, speakers, and vendors online is a great way to promote yourself and your podcast.

Podcasters, whether introverted or extroverted, need to stay connected to the podcast community if they want to expand and grow their show. Not only is it essential for growth but building relationships keeps podcasters from feeling like they are alone on a deserted island.

So, take a deep breath and the first step in reaching out to a podcaster who you’d love to interview or be interviewed by. You never know who will be listening on the other end.

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Contact us: info@womenwhopodcastmag.com for more information!

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SPRING ISSUE 2021

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! To purchase the magazine, visit www.womenwhopodcastmag.com!

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